The months moved by quickly and Ginny found the anticipation of the third task mounting in the school. It was now May and the students all tried to guess as to what it was. Some students were even placing bets in a voting point started by Fred and George. Ginny didn't want to take part in it though. She was friends with both Harry and Cedric, and she wasn't betting on either one of them. It wouldn't be fair.
Cedric had patched things up with Cho, but the status of their relationship was unstable at this point. He wasn't sure if they were actually in a relationship or not. Ginny was struggling to spread her attention between the him and Harry. It was getting harder and harder as exams were approaching and she needed to study every afternoon. Cedric had offered to tutor her and for free. She had felt bad but he said he didn't mind. They also had exams at the beginning of June and the third task was due to take place the Saturday after everyone had finished.
There had also been rumours running wild about her and Harry being an item because of an article Rita had published they day after her and Harry had reconciled. Fred and George had approached them with the article the following morning at breakfast and Fred had laughed, "New couple in town! Congrats guys! It finally happened!" By now, Ron and Hermione were walking down the opposite isle and took a seat beside them.
Ginny had taken the Witch Weekly into her hands and said crossly, "They actually interviewed her about it!" She read out loud:
MA (Marie Amber): Miss Skeeter, how do you think Mr Potter's love life is going?
RS (Rita Skeeter):"So it seems to me that Mr Potter has not one but TWO ladies on his arm. The first we reported a few months ago as being Miss Hermione Granger. The two have been best friends since they began at Hogwarts. Word has it the girl is only after the fame and fortune that goes along with his name. The second is Miss Ginny Weasley, who happens to be Mr Potter's best friend's sister. They were caught hugging intimately in a deserted hallway on a visit to the school (see picture below) and Potter accusingly asked me what I was doing there. Maybe he felt threatened by me because I knew his secret. I'm surprised the girl wasn't put off…but then I discovered it was because she wasn't aware that he was with Granger. I did accidentally let the cat out of the bag and told Miss Weasley about Granger, initially assuming that she knew. More news on the love triangle everyone has been talking about to follow soon!"
Here, Ginny glanced sideways at Harry and he looked considerably pale. She grimaced and asked him, "Must I continue?" He nodded stiffly and she carried on.
MA: I'm sure we can count on you Miss Skeeter to deliver us more information soon. So it seems Potter is quite the player?"
RS: Well, he is but I also suspect Miss Weasley isn't as innocent as she seems. Rumour has it that she had become extremely friendly with the other Triwizard Champion Mr Cedric Diggory. It seems as if birds of a feather flap together in this case. Maybe Weasley and Potter do deserve each other after all.
MA: Oh, so things are heating up at Hogwarts? What's news on the Granger front?
RS: I've been told by a source that Granger is interested in the world-famous Quidditch champion, Viktor Krum, who is also competing the tournament. It seems as if the Hogwarts girls all have one thing they look for in a man-the wealth and fame!
At this point, Hermione spat her pumpkin juice out of her mouth and looked at Ginny in horror. Her voice rose as she exclaimed, "I cannot believe that ignorant witch had the NERVE to insult Hogwarts like that and based on rumours about us that aren't even true!" Ginny shook her head in disgust but she finished reading the column:
MA: Indeed it does seem that way, Rita. Anyway we hope to here more of the scoop at Hogwarts from you soon!
Below the column depicted the very picture Rita had snapped of herself hugging Harry and beside it was one of Hermione hugging Harry from the first task. To their sides were individual pictures of both Viktor and Cedric. Ginny's mouth fell open and she shook her head in disbelief and commented, "I cannot believe she can take an innocent hug and throw it out of proportion!" Harry looked equally shocked as he gritted his teeth and whispered angrily, "I can believe it!"
The twins snickered and George commented, "Sounds like a love square to me. I don't know what triangle she's talking about!" This caused much laughter between the two of them Ginny glared at them. They backed off quickly and Ginny groaned, "It's such rubbish!" Ron was quiet and she asked him, "You don't believe this garbage do you?" He got up from the table and walked away. Ginny groaned in exasperation and she slammed the paper down in frustration, pushing her cereal bowl away and folding her arms indignantly as she grumbled, "This woman made me lose my appetite!"
Harry chuckled and shook his head. She snapped irritably, "What? What is funny about this Harry? Skeeter's basically accusing us of all being cheaters!" He grinned and replied, "You're cute when you're cross!" Ginny rolled her eyes and mumbled under her breath before running after Ron. She had just reconciled with him and she wasn't planning on having another argument with her brother.
She reached him as he was at the top of the stairs and she yelled, "Ron!" before everyone turned to stare at her. She hurtled up the stairs and pulled him aside into an empty corridor. Ginny sighed and shook her head, "Do you truly believe that I'm seeing both Harry and Cedric?" Ron shook his head and whispered, "Do you think I like reading those things about my little sister in the Witch Weekly magazine, Ginny?! They make you seem so...so..." Ginny sighed and patted his arm comfortingly before saying, "Ron, I don't like it either. How do you think it makes me feel? But you know that it's impossible to stop Rita Skeeter." He grimaced and nodded slightly before replying, "There must be some way we can stop her!" Ginny shook her head, "She has a lot of power in any printing company. Besides even Fred and George know it's all a joke. She's trying to make something so innocent seem more than it is." Ron nodded grimly and replied, "Okay, fine I believe you. But maybe you should just keep a low profile. I don't think it's good for you to have this much publicity." Ginny nodded in agreement, "Thanks for understanding. It's a nice change." Her brother smiled at her kindly before they headed to the common room together.
Later that evening, Ginny was playing a game of chess against Harry and she was winning. He only had a Castle, King, Queen and Bishop left. However, Ginny had two Castle's, two Knights', a Bishop and her King. Ron and Hermione were watching as they had all finished their homework for the day and had decided they needed time out to just relax and hang together. It reminded her largely of the holidays when Harry and her had sat and played chess most evenings. The memory bought a smile to her face. It was the first time she had felt really happy in a long time. She was at peace with Ron, Hermione and Harry, as well as Cedric. She couldn't remember feeling happier.
Ginny also noticed while they were playing the looks her brother was giving Hermione. He was smiling and laughing at her jokes which was so unusual. It felt like this was how things were meant to be. She just hoped this joyful feeling lasted.
Important Author's Note: To the reviewers who are saying there is too much drama going on (I would PM but you are guests so I can't), there is drama for a reason. This story is categorised as drama/ romance. I appreciate the reviews and the comments but this is how the story is going to be. It's Ginny's point of view, not Harry's, therefore it will not be as dark and gloomy. Yes she has her issues, but she's dealing with them in her own way and she is slowly overcoming them by learning to open up to Cedric.
This story is also about how she helps others overcome their fears and helps them through the difficult times. It shows how Ginny helps Cedric and vice versa because I believe that a couple should lean on each other for support. They are not officially a couple but it's quite obvious that the attraction is mutual.
Also if your best friend is a guy (here I'm referring to Harry) it will most likely create more drama no matter what the circumstance, especially when one party is interested in another. People generally mistake a girl and guy best friend as being a couple, and this is where Cedric's confusion came in. I think that's understandable. He's not the only one confused by it.
As for Ron being jealous of Ginny's friendship with Harry- I think he has a right to be. Harry was his friend first and we all know that in the fourth book there is lots of tension between them because of the Triwizard Tournament. Besides, now there is some sort of sibling understanding between Ron and Ginny.
The point is, there is a point to all of this and I'm not just writing it because I feel like making drama. I'm not ranting, just explaining that there is a reason for all of this which will be shown in future chapters. To all of those liking the story and sticking with me, thank you so much! The positive feedbacks and comments are really what keep me writing this, because when you are so enthusiastic and interested, I feel the same way! If you think I should add in more explanations like this at the end of the chapters, I am more than willing to do so! Thanks so much guys-end essay of an author's note haha!